Five
Ideas is the culmination of many years of discussion, debate and research
by the members of Nature and Inquiry. The group has been meeting regularly
for over twenty years. These artists have developed a unique presentational
style that combines conceptual rigor, humor and debate in a form that
is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Audience members often leave
Nature and Inquiry events intellectually satisfied and conceptually provoked.

Nature and Inquiry began a series of informal evenings, open to the public,
at Massachusetts College of Art entitled, the Nature and Inquiry Artists
Series, in 1998. During these evenings, artists in the group present ideas
that they have been exploring followed by a discussion of these ideas
with the audience. The group has also presented evenings at the Harvard
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Habitat Institute in Belmont, and
various art venues. In recent years, members of the group have individually
presented work at Harvard University's Tozzer Library, Harvard Medical
School's Vanderbilt Hall, Tufts University Galleries, and University of
Wales, UK.

The Nature and Inquiry artist group includes five men and women whose
ages span four decades. But what ties them together is their collective
embrace of scientific principles as the foundation of their work. They
connect information across diverse disciplines, creating new ways of thinking
about themselves and the environment.

It's not unusual for artists today to incorporate newly developed technologies
in their work, producing unique, often unforeseeable art forms. This group
does the same with scientific information. But unlike scientists, who
often devote entire lifetimes of research to one discipline, artists have
the freedom to examine relationships among disciplines, combining information
in unforeseen ways and reaching new levels of understanding. Rather than
echoing or commenting on existing scientific models and theories, the
members of Nature and Inquiry are dedicated to creating them.

"We believe, if art has an historical direction, it is its continual
expression of natural truths laid so bare and evident they can't help
but resonate with the human spirit. That direction forms the core of art's
vital history-a fundamental human drive to know ourselves fully and to
express what we know."

With Five Ideas, in the mail, online and in person, the Nature and Inquiry
group present their ideas to you - open to challenge, discussion and,
especially, curiosity.